OWNERS of a limestone quarry say "bureaucracy and red tape" are leaving more than 30 people in fear of their jobs.

Eight months after calling in a planning application, the National Assembly has still not decided how a proposal to extend the limestone quarry at St George, near Abergele, should be dealt with.

Hansons Aggregates submitted the application to Conwy County Borough Council in January. But just as the authority was about to resolve the matter it was taken out of their hands by the Assembly.

The council had said it was minded to approve the scheme, to which there were no major objections.

The scheme would extend the life of the quarry by up to 10 years.

But company spokesman David Harding said yesterday it was becoming increasingly frustrated by the delay.

"If we have to close down, 15 employ-ees will lose their jobs, along with hauliers and others who are dependent on us" he said.

Mr Harding said he understood there were concerns about the number of quarries in North East Wales, but stressed limestone from St George was all used in the local area.

"The men don't know whether they will still have jobs after next summer, and it's not fair on them. Conwy Council have been very supportive and this delay is all down to the Assembly's bureaucracy and red tape.

"If it's decided to hold a public inquiry it will extend the delay even further," he said. "All the necessary details were provided in the original application."

An Assembly spokesman said: "The company was asked on November 6 to provide additional information to complete the Environmental Statement. That information is still awaited and once the ES is complete the process of determining the planning application can move forward."